Chapter 9,

Potions and Conversations…

Wednesday was always Eleanora's least favourite day of the week, but waking up in the morning after that night and realising that she had Potions with Gryffindor immediately after breakfast, she felt she had even more reason to hate it than usual.

Rolling over she buried her head into her pillow and did her level best to ignore her fellow dorm-mates as they got ready for the day. She heard them as they exited and silence fell around the room like a blanket, however Eleanora felt as though she wasn't alone in the room.

Sure enough, when she dared to crack open an eye, Daphne stood silently above her with a distinctly unimpressed expression on her face.

"Hi?" Eleanora mumbled, trying to keep her voice innocent and light, Daphne arched one of her perfectly manicured eyebrows,

"Hi. Wanna tell me why you're still in bed? You're usually the first one up and out of here during the week." Daphne asked, knowing full well what the blonde was trying to pull off, but wanting to see how far she would actually try and take this charade.

"I'm…Sick?" Eleanora tried, even managing a small pathetic cough to try and convince her friend.

"Well I'll go fetch Madame Pomfrey for you then shall I? She should still be at breakfast if I hurry." Daphne mentioned casually, without making any attempt to move from her place at the foot of Eleanora's bed. Eleanora grumbled to herself as she reluctantly slid out from under the covers, Daphne thought she may have heard various threats that involved herself and a pack of Nifflers…

"You're a crappy best friend Daphne Greengrass, why can't you just help me fake sick for the day!" The girl whined even as she grabbed her uniform from its hanger and trudged towards the bathroom.

"Depends on why you want to fake sick darling, I would gladly help if it meant that you would do something rebellious like sneak out of school. However, if you're just faking sick to get out of seeing a certain glasses-wearing Gryffindor then I'm afraid you're out of luck!" Daphne chirped cheerfully to the closed bathroom door as she began to assemble the supplies needed for the day.

Eleanora emerged from the bathroom fresh faced and glowering at her friend as she secured her half up hairstyle with an emerald barrette, but Daphne, who had many years of experience in reading Eleanora Black's expressions, could tell that her friend was nervous rather than angry.

Sure enough, her thoughts were confirmed a moment later when Eleanora turned away and whispered;

"I'm worried about running into him okay?! I'm scared of what I'll see in his eyes: anger, revulsion, disdain, or what if he just ignores me completely?" she admitted softly as she fiddled with the strap on her satchel to keep her hands from shaking.

And that right there was the problem.

Despite the front that she put on for the rest of the world, Eleanora was actually very insecure and fragile, just like anyone else, possibly more so when you consider the amount of negativity and criticism she'd received in her short life. Eleanora craved acceptance like an addict craved their vice.

Becoming a Slytherin had dashed much of the hope she'd had of being accepted by the Wizarding community at large. However, she could have been content with acceptance from the majority of Slytherin house, if she hadn't had to deal with those pesky morals that had somehow became deeply rooted in her conscience despite her upbringing.

Those same morals demanded much of her, that she not sit idly by and watch as good people suffer and wrongs go unpunished, that she must forsake the acceptance that she so desperately craved to stand up for what is right and just.

With Harry and the DA she had thought she had finally found a way to be accepted and validated in a way the her morals approved of, and then she had to go and sabotage herself before she even stood a chance!

This is why she was trying to avoid Harry Potter as much as possible, because as long as she didn't see him and the distrust in his eyes, she could pretend that nothing had happened and that she still stood a chance.

. . .

Daphne closed her eyes and silently counted to ten, fighting the (rather strong) urge to slap her best friend. Oh Merlin it was only Wednesday! She really did not have the right disposition to be able to deal with this with the kind of love and attention Eleanora probably needed.

However, Eleanora had chosen Daphne to be her best friend knowing Daphne's somewhat, prickly, nature. So Daphne would deal with her best friend's stupid insecurities in the best way that she knew how…

"GET A GRIP GIRL! Honestly!" She yelled at the clearly startled blonde in front of her,

"You are Eleanora. Effing. Black. The last of the Blacks, Lady of your House and the first female Head of a Noble and Most Ancient House in practically forever! You are beholden to NO MAN! Any bloke should consider himself blessed to have your attention bestowed on him. If Harry sodding Potter didn't like being kissed by you, well then that's his problem because there is clearly something wrong with him!"

Daphne punctuated each of her statements with a sharp poke to Eleanora's clavicle, as if trying to physically get her point across. Eleanora stood stock still and silent during her friends tirade, eyes wide in shock, unable to speak even if she could figure out what she wanted to say.

For a moment the room was completely silent, Daphne worried that she may have overstepped the line slightly and actually angered her best friend. For all her confidence issues Eleanora was never a truer Black than when she was angry. The moment passed as Eleanora's shoulders slumped and she sighed,

"I'm being rather silly, aren't I?" Eleanora asked forlornly, rubbing the spot where Daphne had attacked her, it was going to bruise later she was sure of it.

"You're not just being silly dear, you're being irrational." Daphne stated simply, Eleanora gasped in horror.

"You take that back!" She demanded with a glare,

"I will… When you prove me wrong." Daphne taunted with a smile. Eleanora grabbed her satchel and marched out of the room without another word, Daphne trailing happily behind her making a mental note to look into how hard it would be to brew a Confidence Draught, heaven knows Eleanora's going to need a batch or two if she continued to work closely with Harry. Eleanora Black working with Harry Potter, Daphne could already feel the future migraines she was going to get from listening to her talk about the messy-haired boy of her affections…

…Perhaps she'd better add the Pain Relief Potion to her list…and maybe a Calming Draught too.

Eleanora continued her determined march all the way to the entrance of the Great Hall, faltering only slightly to quickly scan the Gryffindor table for messy black hair. She found herself breathing a small sigh of relief when it became apparent that he had yet to come down, then scowled at her own reluctance; Daphne was right, she was a Black dammit! She would not cower at the thought of a teenage boy of all things!

Chin raised in defiance Eleanora swept gracefully into the Great Hall and sat down purposefully at the side of the Slytherin table that faced the Gryffindors.

She was totally not afraid of Harry Potter, or his judgements of her.

Daphne settled down beside her and began to butter a slice of toast while Eleanora made herself a cup of tea to calm her nerves. They sit in comfortable silence while their year mates chatter around them, occasionally offering advice and opinions on particularly interesting topics, both waiting for a certain Gryffindor to walk through the double doors.

Soon enough Harry entered the hall flanked by his two closest friends and Eleanora unconsciously straightened in her seat. He lead them towards seats that faced the Slytherin table as his gaze flicked up and down the sea of green robes until he caught her gaze on him. Harry beamed brightly when he caught sight of her as he sat down and Eleanora began to smile back until she felt an embarrassing flush rise in her cheeks, she quickly ducked her head and avoided his gaze.

Harry took a bite out of a breakfast muffin, surprisingly pleased with Eleanora's reaction, that the kiss they had shared last night (the one that may or may not have kept him up for the better part of the night) had obviously meant something to her as it had to him. His smile brightened when he watched her blush deepen as her brunette friend glanced at him and then whispered something in her ear, perhaps there could be something between them, someday. Maybe.

Hermione and Ron watch as their best friend smiled like a loon in the direction of the Slytherin table, specifically, at the blonde who had infiltrated their secret meeting the night before. The two shared a worried look before Ron shrugged and turned his attention to the most important meal of the day. Although they hadn't exactly had time to discuss it alone in any great length Hermione felt that she and Ron were on the same page; they were both worried about Harry getting too involved with a Slytherin, especially since they knew next to nothing about her.

However trying to tell Harry that he couldn't do something, in Hermione's experience, was a lot like trying to herd cats; completely useless and absolutely frustrating. He was quick to anger and unable to see reason over his strong (and noble) desire to help those less fortunate, Hermione had often jokingly called it his 'saving people complex' but now it was no longer a laughing matter.

Sure this girl may really need their help, but she could just as easily be gathering information to find Harry's weaknesses and sell him out.

Harry was one of Hermione's very few friends, her best friend if she was being honest with herself, and she couldn't, wouldn't, stand by and watch as he could be potentially betrayed and hurt.

Hermione had come to the conclusion late last night that she would do what she does best; gather information and research, to help her get a better understanding of this girl and the threat she may or may not pose to Harry. Hermione would support her friend and encourage him to be cautious, and if he refused, as she expected he most likely would, then she would just have to be cautious enough for both of them.

Another who noticed the interaction between the Slytherin girl and the Gryffindor boy was one Draco Malfoy. He watched in confusion and mild disgust as Potter beamed over at the Slytherin table like the idiot he was, but what was more startling to him was the fact that Eleanora seemed thrilled by Potter's stare and was even blushing… a Black blushing! It was an affront to their shared ancestors!

Their interaction suggested that they somehow knew each other and Draco was curious to know how Potter would have come into contact with Eleanora. It wasn't as if a Slytherin would willingly lower themselves to acknowledge a Gryffindor. Fortunately Draco knew of the perfect opportunity to have his curiosity satisfied, and it was only minutes away.

Eleanora managed to keep her blush down long enough to finish the slice of toast she had been nibbling at since Harry had entered the Hall. She glanced at Daphne and, noticing that her friend had also finished eating, rose to make her way down to Potions with Daphne a half-step behind her.

Harry watched the two girls as they gracefully walked out of the Great Hall, he quickly wolfed down the remainder of his breakfast and made to follow them, ignoring Hermione's squawk of 'Harry, wait!' as she rushed to finish her meal and follow him, pulling a disgruntled Ron behind her.

The trio were quick to catch up to Daphne and Eleanora's leisurely pace, Harry accidentally brushing arms with the latter. However his, not very sincere, apology was interrupted by Draco Malfoy shoving him to the side to be in-between the couple.

"Black, I thought you'd know better than to lower yourself by associating with such scum. Imagine the shame on our house if anyone else were to see this!" The boy sneered, obviously intent on provoking a reaction from the Gryffindor trio, by the look on Weasley's face Eleanora reckoned he was close to succeeding.

Ron was struggling on what to do, on the one hand he wanted to tell off Malfoy for calling them scum, but on the other hand he didn't want to defend the Black girl or make her think that he wanted her around. Eventually Harry made the decision for them by shoving passed Malfoy without a word, not wanting Eleanora to get into trouble because of him and cursing himself for being stupid enough to try and approach her so publicly when she had specifically asked him to be discrete!

They quickly walk ahead of the Slytherin group into the Potion's classroom and took their seats on the traditionally Gryffindor side of the room, Harry and Ron sitting together with Hermione taking the empty seat next to Neville in front of them. Seconds pass, then minutes and Harry felt his dread growing as other students began to enter the classroom and Eleanora and her friend had yet to appear, despite being just behind them a few minutes ago. What could possibly be keeping them? Was she okay? What was Malfoy saying to her? Harry couldn't focus on the conversation Ron was trying to pull him into, his worry about what could possibly be happening right outside the door was too great. Just as he had decided that he'd had enough and it was time to make sure that Eleanora was okay, the girl in question finally made an appearance!

Eleanora swept into the room and took her seat on the Slytherin side of the dungeon room, in the same row as Hermione and Neville which gave Harry an excellent view of her profile from his vantage point. The Gryffindor boy sighed softly in relief that she seemed fine, and quickly resigned himself to the fact that he certainly wouldn't be getting anything productive done this lesson with a view like that. He was far too realistic to believe that Ron would cover his share of the work the way Hermione would.

Harry watched as Eleanora's friend entered the room along with Malfoy and his goons, she went to take the seat next to Eleanora but was beaten to it by the Slytherin boy. She stared at Malfoy, with what Harry thought was either shock or loathing, for a moment before pointedly clearing her throat.

"That's my seat Malfoy." She said coolly, 'yep definitely loathing then' Harry though to himself as he watched the bemusing interaction unfold. Malfoy didn't even bother to look up at the angry girl standing above him as he continued to retrieve his supplies from his bag.

"I didn't know it had your name on it Greengrass, there is a perfectly good seat behind you if you'd bothered to look." Draco said smugly, reclining back in his seat to smirk at the girl.

Their argument has drawn the attention of not only Harry's group but most of the other Gryffindors in the room, who watch fascinated as the girl, Greengrass, alternatively glares at Draco and shoots glances at Eleanora that Harry cannot decipher. Draco simply continues to smile smugly at her but Eleanora seems to be hardly paying attention. She was watching her two housemates with a distinctly disinterested look on her face, Harry may not have known the girl long but from what he gathered so far Eleanora had an opinion on everything! The fact that she wasn't sharing said opinion and instead hiding behind a mask of indifference worried Harry immensely.

Slowly more and more people began to notice the confrontation going on, something that Eleanora noticed as well. With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, she ended whatever silent debate was going on between the three of them with a small nod to her still glowering brunette friend. The girl huffs in annoyance but backs down immediately, sulkily taking the seat directly behind Draco and glaring at the back of his head, resolutely ignoring Theodore Nott's attempts to get her attention.

It's at that moment when Professor Snape makes his entrance, instantly silencing any conversations. Rapping his wand harshly on the blackboard the instructions for the potion they will have to work on, the Draught of Peace, instantly appear and the lesson proceeds as normal…almost.

Harry can barely concentrate and twice Ron has to bodily stop him from adding the wrong ingredient and blowing up their workstation. Harry's sole attention is focused on the two blonde Slytherins sharing a desk on the other side of the classroom.

Draco is alternately leaning around Eleanora to glare angrily in his direction, and then furiously whispering in her ear as she single-handedly prepares their potion.

Eleanora is focused and steady as she prepares the Draught, looking for all the world as if she isn't even aware that Draco is whispering to her. She never responds in any way to whatever he is saying, but Harry can see her blank, disinterested facade starting to crack, and the mixture of fury and fright hidden beneath it definitely has him worried.

The bell tolls to signal the end of the lesson and Harry briefly looks down at their finished potion, it looks a lot like tar in colour and consistency, 'not at all like Neville and Hermione's shimmering silvery potion' Harry thought morosely as he bottled it up nonetheless. He looked over at Eleanora, trying to see if she was alright, and found that she was already being tugged out of the classroom by her friend.

Resolved to find her on her own later using the map, Harry begins to pack up the ingredients and his belongings, apologising to Ron for not being much help who shrugs it off. The four of them exit the classroom, Snape shutting the door sharply behind them, they are the last ones left in the corridor as they make their way back up towards the Charms floor.

As they turn the final corner before the Great Hall the four Gryffindors are greeted by a strange sight. Eleanora's friend, the angry brunette, was casually leaning against a classroom door with her book bag at her feet. She noticed them as they continued around the corner and seemed to be sizing Harry up as they approached her spot, finding whatever it was that she was looking for, the girl sighed and held his gaze as she inclined her head towards the closed door she was leaning against.

Without a single word uttered she then grabbed her book bag, which thumped against the door as she picked it up, and walked away from the group without glancing back.

Knowing instinctively just who was behind that door, Harry told his friends to go on without him, he wanted to make sure that Eleanora was all right and find out what Malfoy was saying to her. Ron immediately argued that it could be a trap and Hermione also seemed wary of leaving him alone, but Neville, who was quickly becoming Harry's favourite person, just gave him an encouraging smile before steering away an angry Ron and reluctant Hermione.

.

.

.

.

.

AN: So sorry for the lateness of this chapter, I am trying to get them out in a reasonable timeframe however life always seems to get in the way! Many thanks go to; pasokditto, ThunderSphinx, thequeenofthepitch, Richasa, PrimeMegalodon and Nina, your reviews help me immensely. Longest chapter of the series so far! I hope you enjoyed it!

Wish I may and wish I might, but the HP universe belongs to JK Rowling, I'm just playing in it.